The Experts' Club

I’ve fenced competitively for 50 years, and for more than 30 of them I’ve also been a fencing coach at the club, high school, and college levels. During that time, I’ve purchased (literally!) a ton or so of fencing equipment from a wide variety of suppliers in the U.S. and abroad. The supplier with which I’ve had the longest and best relationship is Blade.

Why Blade, you may ask – especially because there’s a whispering campaign against Blade out there that you may have run into. I know this is the Blade blog, and I may be preaching to the choir. Still, I’m writing this to urge you to give Blade a fair shake.

Why Blade? First of all, because Blade offers a full range of equipment at every price level. Blade can supply me when I need equipment for my youth beginner classes, for my varsity teams, for the aspiring competitors at my club, or for international competitors. The prices are good and the quality is better than the price.

Second, because Stan Bardakh, the proprietor, knows fencing equipment from the inside. After his career as a high-level competitor, he was a top coach in the old USSR and again in the US, where he produced “A’s,” All-Americans, National Champions, and international competitors. Full disclosure here: he’s been my coach and my partner, so there’s a bond between us and I may be a little bit prejudiced.) Stan knows his suppliers, too – he travels overseas to visit them, constantly pressuring them to innovate and improve so that he can update and improve the products he offers me.

Finally, if you know what you want in fencing equipment, Stan is the perfect guy to talk to. He’s got inside information. He’ll have his opinions, you’ll have yours, and out of your exchange of ideas you’ll be able to get what you really need. If you come in with second-hand preferences, he’ll try to set you straight. He wants you to buy from him, but he’s more than a conventional salesman – he’ll try to educate you about fencing.

Steve Khinoy

Head Coach, Staten Island Fencing Club

Varsity Coach, McKee – SI Tech High School

Publisher, SKA SwordPlay Books

I’m a saber fencer.  I know that I’m not allowed to fleche, but I see people doing something called a “flunge.” How do I learn to do that?

I’m an epee fencer, but I’m a lot shorter than average. People keep telling me that epee is for tall people and that I should switch weapons. Are they right?

 I’m fifteen and I’ve been fencing for a year and a half (foil). I think I’ve made a lot of progress, but I have trouble against lefties. It seems like they can parry all my attacks and then just wait for the moment to attack me. Honestly, I’m a little bit intimidated by them. There aren’t any lefties in my club that I can practice against. What do you recommend?

Hello, and welcome to the Experts’ Club — the online environment where you ask about fencing techniques, tactics, and strategies and be answered by elite coaches. Whether you are a beginning foil fencer who wants advice on how to deal with left-handed foil fencers — or a “B” rated saber fencer who needs an extra push to get a top rating — or an epee fencer who is worried about preparing for a special competition — here’s where you can ask a fencing expert in foil, saber, or epee, and get a fencing answer you can rely on. Write us and ask! We’re here for you.

Wow…my first blog is here…..HELP!!